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Arsenal will continue their preparations for the new season with a fixture against MLS All-Stars at the Avaya Stadium in San Jose.

After a less than impressive showing in their opening pre-season game against RC Lens, the Gunners will be looking to step up a gear when they face the best assembled team from the MLS.

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A star studded squad for the hosts will include the likes of Andrea Pirlo, Kaka, David Villa, Sebastian Giovinco, Giovani Dos Santos, Clint Dempsey and Didier Drogba.

Drogba in particular will be looking to resume where he left off given his impressive record against Arsenal. The Ivorian has scored 15 goals against the Gunners in as many matches and will be hoping to heap further misery on Wenger’s side.

Wenger will have more options for the upcoming game especially in midfield with Santi Cazorla and Jack Wilshere poised to feature. New signing Granit Xhaka is also expected to make an appearance.

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Rob Holding, Arsenal’s other summer signing is also set to make his Arsenal debut with Per Mertesacker sidelined for a few months with a knee injury.

This leaves Calum Chambers as the only other choice at the heart of the defence and we can expect Wenger to field the likes of Nacho Monreal and Mathieu Debuchy in make-shift positions.

The likes of Aaron Ramsey, Alexis Sanchez, Mesut Ozil, Laurent Koscielny, and Olivier Giroud have been granted extended breaks following their participation in continental tournaments and will not feature.

Arsene Wenger is likely to give his young guns the chance to impress before the new seasons kicks off, with the likes of Gedion Zelalem, Chuba Akpom, Krystian Bielik and Chris Willock eager to break into the senior squad.

Prediction

Arsenal will be prepared for a stern test against what appears to be a very strong MLS All-Stars side. The Gunners will be without a few key players especially in defence and will have to show a lot of resilience and discipline in order to keep Drogba and co. at bay.

The return of Cazorla and Wilshere will bring stability to the middle of the park and it remains to be seen how Xhaka adjusts in his new team. The likes of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Theo Walcott will be looking to impress given the stiff competition for places, with the former putting an impressive showing in the opening pre-season fixture.